Megan Rapinoe’s penalty kick gives U.S. 1-1 draw against Sweden

The U.S. women’s 16-match winning streak was snapped in a 1-1 draw with Sweden on Saturday in Carli Lloyd’s 300th national team appearance. Lina Hurtig put Sweden ahead off a set piece in the 38th minute before Megan Rapinoe’s penalty kick pulled the United States even in the 87th minute at Stockholm. The draw extended the U.S. team’s unbeaten streak to 38 games. Rapinoe’s goal was her sixth this year to lead the team.

The Americans have not lost a match since January 2019, when they fell to France. Their 16-game winning streak was the third-longest in team history.

Lloyd wore the captain’s armband for her milestone game. The only other players to appear in 300 or more national team games are Kristine Lilly (354) and Christie Pearce Rampone (311).

The U.S. and Sweden have qualified for the Olympics this summer. The U.S. is the world’s top-ranked team. In Tokyo, the U.S. will seek to become the first women’s team to follow a World Cup victory with an Olympic gold medal. Rapinoe said the scare from the Swedes will help the United States as it prepares for the Olympics this summer.

The U.S. next travels to Le Havre for a match against No. 3 France on Tuesday.

SPAIN: Keeping Lionel Messi in check again in what could turn out to be his last Spanish league clásico, Real Madrid continued its impressive run. Four days after beating Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 to return to the top in Spain. The victory in pouring rain left Madrid tied on points with Atlético Madrid and ahead on the head-to-head tiebreaker.